Gender Role Rant!

When I was in high school, I was a huge, vocal advocate of gender equality, especially since I went to a school with a bunch of redneck, sexist pigs who felt that all women were good for was staying home and "birthin' babies". To be smart and successfully as a female was not only frowned upon, but could cause you to be ostracised. (For example, when I visited my parents after graduating from USU and beginning to work at LDS Church Headquarters, my business teacher told me he was disappointed in me and thought I would have done more with my life since I wasn't married or even dating at the time.)

While I have grown older and wiser, I still believe in equality, to a degree, and don't feel that there should be hard drawn out lines as to what a "woman's" job vs. a "man's" job in the home should be. Why am I ranting about this?

Earlier today I was talking to a friend on the phone who was in the midst of an argument with her oldest boy regarding mowing the lawn. He was frustrated because he did not feel it was fair that he always had to mow the lawn and his older sister did not, just because she is a girl. My friend told me that none of her daughters (she has 3) would ever mow the lawn, because it's too dirty and is a "boy's" job. I did everything to bite my tongue and quickly got off the phone.

What I wanted to say was, "GIVE ME A BREAK!" And what happens when your daughter grows up and doesn't get married right away, if ever? (I know it is shocking but there are several strong, active, LDS women that this happens to. I am one of those.) So while she is in her "singleblessedness" and decides to buy her own home, because she needs the tax deduction and it makes more sense financially, who is going to take care of her lawn since she never learned how to run a lawn mower, let alone care for a lawn? Or if what if her husband becomes incapacitated in some way or has to be gone for a lengthy time for work and can't mow the lawn? Neighbors get a little testy if you never mow, water, or weed your lawn. And the cost of someone else to do it is outrageous! (Our neighbor told me his son is getting paid $25/lawn each time he mows.) Not preparing your daughter to be self-sufficient, if needed, is doing her such a disservice! The same is true for not teaching your sons to do housework and cook. And with both genders, teaching them about finances such as savings, checking accounts, and interest!

I realize I am not a parent, but good grief! It's not going to kill a girl to learn to mow a lawn or a boy to cook and clean. Their future roommates and spouses will thank you for it, and so will they when they are able to do things on their own and save money by not having to pay others for things they can do on their own. Also if they are to get married, this is a great way for spouses to help one another out and serve one another. For example, my husband is having work 12 days straight right now and mowing the lawn is the last thing he wants to do when he gets home. Me mowing the lawn this week is just a small way to help him out and show my appreciation for him being able and willing to work so hard.

Plus what a great bonding time and teaching moment! Sometimes working on my car together was the only time my father and I could be in the same vicinity with each other and have a pleasant conversation.

Taking out the trash and mowing the lawn is too dirty and should only be a "man's" job? Have you cleaned a toilet that boys used or changed a dirty diaper lately? Talk about dirty!

Okay, I've had my rant now, so now I'll take a deep breath and go make pizza dough for dinner.